We are frequently asked if a smoothie recipe is suitable for diabetics. To which we always direct you to consult your doctor as we are not health care professionals. So it was interesting to come across this article by Dr Nina Cherie dealing with this specific topic.

And while we give you her 5 ‘nutritional strategies that you should follow to ensure that your smoothies aren’t exceptionally high in sugar’ to consider, we do still strongly recommend you discuss the information with your health care professional.

We have also included a smoothie, following her strategies, at the end of the post.

Dr Cherie says …

There’s absolutely no reason why fruit smoothies and smoothies in general can’t be included in a well-balanced diet. However, if you have diabetes, hyperglycemia, or are just trying to lower your risk, there are certain nutritional strategies that you should follow to ensure that your smoothies aren’t exceptionally high in sugar.

 

Strategy #1: Avoid using large amounts of fruit
It’s a good rule of thumb to include sensible portions of fruit, especially those lower in sugar like berries. While bananas are fine, you should note that including 2 bananas in one smoothie uses your entire recommended daily serving of fruit in one meal! Best to avoid that and spread it through your day.

There are many people … who have unknowingly sabotaged their efforts to eat healthy due to a serious misunderstanding of how simple substances like sugar can impact the body, even in natural form. While you might think that the sugar in fruits is meaningless, it’s important to understand that sugar is hidden in many types of foods including potatoes, breads and even milk.

 

Strategy #2: Use plenty of leafy green vegetables.

As we all know, smoothies are a great way to hide those leafy green veggies you know are good for you but may not like to eat. They are great to use as they are …

… essentially sugar-free and house incredibly large amounts of fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, and calcium. They are also rich in potent antioxidants like carotenoids and indoles, which have been shown to protect against heart disease, cancer and countless other chronic conditions.

 

Turn to the Next Page for more of Dr Nina Cheries’ great tips …

 

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